In the Lane

Moore points kept coming

North Florida guard Dallas Moore (14) tries to get past Arkansas defender Anton Beard in the second half of their game Saturday, December 10, 2016 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- North Florida guard Dallas Moore put on a show Saturday in Walton Arena.

Moore, a 6-1 senior from St. Petersburg, Fla., hit 12 of 20 shots -- including 4 of 9 three-pointers and four baskets resulting from the ball banking high off the backboard -- and 6 of 6 free throws to finish with 34 points in 37 minutes.

Arkansas survived Moore's fourth consecutive game with 29 or more points to beat North Florida 91-76 at Walton Arena.

"He just kept attacking us," Razorbacks guard Jaylen Barford said of Moore. "Every time we got momentum, it seemed like he hit a tough shot or a tough layup."

Arkansas guard Daryl Macon said Moore is the best player he's faced this season, but he also said the Razorbacks didn't do a good job of executing their defensive game plan in the first half when Moore scored 22 points to help North Florida to a 44-44 halftime tie.

"I think we went against the game plan in the first half because we were trapping the screens and we were supposed to be denying him the ball," Macon said. "We started letting him get it.

"When we went against the game plan, obviously he started hitting shots. I guess it was just his night."

Moore is averaging 31.2 points over his past four games, including 29 against Wright State, 31 against Florida and 30 against Syracuse.

"I don't remember the last time a dude has got 30 three times in a row against Power Five teams," North Florida Coach Matthew Driscoll said. "I'm so proud of him.

"He doesn't play with a chip on his shoulder. He plays with confidence, and that's why he's a pro and that's why the pros love him."

Moore played only nine seconds of the final 3:22 after his right calf cramped up. He went to the bench, came back into the game briefly, then left for good with 2:08 left.

"I don't think that I wore down," Moore said. "I'm used to playing a lot of minutes. I guess I didn't drink enough Gatorade or water throughout the day."

According to HogStats.com, Moore tied Morgan State's Reggie Holmes for the fifth-most points by an Arkansas opponent in Walton Arena, which opened for the 1993-94 season. Holmes scored 34 points at Arkansas during the 2009-10 season.

Kentucky's Jodie Meeks holds the Walton Arena opponent record with 45 points during the 2008-09 season. Montevallo's Nate Drigger scored 37 during the 1994-95 season. Oklahoma's Willie Warren scored 35 points during the 2008-09 season and Syracuse's James Southerland scored 35 during the 2012-13 season.

"I just have to keep being aggressive because that's who I am, that's who Coach wants me to be," Moore said. "That's what my team wants me to be, so I've just got to keep taking those shots.

"No matter if I make 20 shots or miss 20 shots, I have to keep shooting 20."

Driscoll, sitting next to Moore in the postgame interview room, said with a smile, "Don't miss 20. Brother needs some makes."

Trusty Dusty

Arkansas senior guard Dusty Hannahs hit 5 of 5 free throws Saturday to extend his streak of makes to 25 over the past seven games. Hannahs has hit 39 of 42 free throws on the season.

Happy 100th

The Razorbacks improved to 88-12 in Walton Arena during Coach Mike Anderson's six seasons. They're 8-0 at home this season.

Inside game

Arkansas outrebounded North Florida 42-27 and outscored the Ospreys 22-6 on second-chance points and 38-20 on points in the paint.

"I think that's where the game was won -- inside," Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson said. "I thought we did a good job on the offensive glass, especially going down the stretch. We got to the free-throw line. We attacked their zone."

The Razorbacks had 15 offensive rebounds and hit 24 of 32 free throws.

Thompson skies

Arkansas 6-9 junior forward Trey Thompson isn't known for his athletic moves, but he showed off some hops going up for an alley-oop pass from Anton Beard and dunking to give the Razorbacks a 19-12 lead with 11:25 left in the first half.

SEC comparisons

North Florida fell to 0-19 all-time against SEC teams, including 0-4 this season.

The Ospreys this season lost at Auburn 83-66, at LSU 78-70 and to No. 21 Florida at home in Jacksonville, Fla., 91-60 before taking on the Razorbacks.

North Florida guard Dallas Moore was asked how the Razorbacks compare to the other SEC teams the Ospreys have faced.

"They're a good team," Moore said. "It'll be some good battles in the SEC for them."

Added North Florida Coach Matt Driscoll: "LSU has got some good pieces. Florida obviously is really talented. Auburn is way better than you think, and they shoot the ball better this year. They're just a little bit small.

"Yeah, I think what Dallas said. It's going to be interesting."

Long break

The Razorbacks will take a week-long break between games because of final exams.

Arkansas will be off until playing Texas on Saturday at the Toyota Center in Houston.

The Arkansas-Texas game will be the second part of the Lone Star Shootout doubleheader with No. 20 Arizona playing Texas A&M in the opener.

Two in a row

Arkansas improved to 2-0 against North Florida, including a 97-72 victory last season at Walton Arena.

Sports on 12/11/2016